And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,

I would not shave to-day.

Lep.

For private stomaching.
Eno.

:

'Tis not a time

Every time

Serves for the matter that is then born in it.

Lep. But small to greater matters must give way.

Eno. Not if the small come first.

Lep.

Your speech is passion:

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes
The noble Antony.

Eno.

Enter Antony and Ventidius.

And yonder, Cæsar.

Enter Cæsar, Mæcenas, and Agrippa.

Ant. If we compose* well here, to Parthia :

Hark you, Ventidius.
Cas.

Mæcenas; ask Agrippa.

Lep.

I do not know,

Noble friends,

That which combin'd us was most great, and

let not

1.

A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,
May it be gently heard: When we debate
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murder in healing wounds: Then, noble partners,
(The rather, for I earnestly beseech,)
Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness† grow to the matter.

Ant.

'Tis spoken well:

Were we before our armies, and to fight,
I should do thus.

Cas. Welcome to Rome.

Ant.

Cas.

Ant. I learn, you take things ill, which are not so;

Or, being, concern you not.

Cæs.

I must be laugh'd at,

If, or for nothing, or a little, I

Should say myself offended; and with you
Chiefly i'the world: more laugh'd at, that I should
Once name you derogately, when to sound your

name

It not concern'd me.

Ant.

What was't to you ?

My being in Egypt, Cæsar,

Cas. No more than my residing here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt: Yet, if you there Did practise* on my state, your being in Egypt Might be my question †,

Ant.

How intend you, practis'd?

Cas. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent, By what did here befal me. Your wife, and brother, Made wars upon me; and their contestation Was theme for you, you were the word of war. Ant. You do mistake your business; my brother

never

Did urge me in this act: I did inquire it;
And have my learning from some true reports ‡,
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours;

And make the wars alike against my stomach,
Having alike your cause? Of this, my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you have not to make it with,
It must not be with this.

Cæs.

You praise yourself

By laying defects of judgment to me; but
You patch'd up your excuses.

Ant.
Not so, not so;
I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I,
Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars

Which 'fronted* mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another:
The third o'the world is yours; which with a snafflet
You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

Eno. 'Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women!

Ant. So much uncurable, her garboils †, Cæsar, Made out of her impatience (which not wanted Shrewdness of policy too,) I grieving grant, Did you too much disquiet: for that, you must But say, I could not help it.

I wrote to you,

Cæs.
When rioting in Alexandria; you
Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive § out of audience.

Ant.

Sir,

He fell upon me, ere admitted; then-
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i'the morning: but, next day,
I told him of myself; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon: Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,

Out of our question || wipe him.

Cæs.

You have broken

The article of your oath; which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.
Lep.

Soft, Cæsar.

Ant. No, Lepidus, let him speak;
The honour's sacred which he talks on now,
Supposing that I lack'd it: But on, Cæsar;
The article of my oath,-

Cæs. To lend me arms, and aid, when I requir'd

them;

Neglected, rather;

The which you both denied.
Ant.
And then, when poison'd hours had bound me up
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,
I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty

Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
Work without it: Truth is, that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon, as befits mine honour

To stoop in such a case.

Lep.

'Tis nobly spoken.

Mac. If it might please you, to enforce no further The griefs * between ye: to forget them quite, Were to remember that the present need Speaks to atone† you.

Lep.

Worthily spoke, Mæcenas.

Eno. Or, if you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to wrangle in, when you have nothing else

to do.

Ant. Thou art a soldier only; speak no more. Eno. That truth should be silent, I had almost forgot.

Ant. You wrong this presence, therefore speak

no more.

Eno. Go to then; your considerate stone. Cæs. I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his speech: for it cannot be, We shall remain in friendship, our conditions ‡ So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew What hoop should hold us staunch §, from edge to

...edge

O'the world I would pursue it.

Agr.

Cæs. Speak, Agrippa.

Give me leave, Cæsar,

Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,

Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony

Is now a widower.

Cæs.

Say not so, Agrippa;

If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof

Were well deserv'd of rashness.

Ant. I am not married, Cæsar: let me hear

Agrippa further speak.

Agr. To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts With an unslipping knot, take Antony Octavia to his wife: whose beauty claims No worse a husband than the best of men : Whose virtue, and whose general graces, speak That which none else can utter. By this marriage, All little jealousies, which now seem great, And all great fears, which now import their dangers, Would then be nothing: truths would be but tales, Where now half tales be truths: her love to both, Would, each to other, and all loves to both, Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke; For 'tis a studied, not a present thought, By duty ruminated. Ant.

Will Cæsar speak?

Cæs. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd

With what is spoke already.
Ant.

What power is in Agrippa,

If I would say, Agrippa, be it so,

To make this good?

Cæs.

Ant.

The power of Cæsar, and

His power unto Octavia.

May I never

To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,

Dream of impediment!-Let me have thy hand: Further this act of grace; and, from this hour,

The heart of brothers govern in our loves,

And sway our great designs !

Cors.

There is my hand.

A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother
Did ever love so dearly: Let her live

To join our kingdoms, and our hearts; and never

Fly off our loves again!

Lep.

Happily, amen!

Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst

Pompey;